energyhttp://www.maclife.com/taxonomy/term/207/all
enApple Wants to Power Its Retail Stores with 'Green' Energyhttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_wants_power_its_retail_stores_green_energy
<!--paging_filter--><p>We've heard a lot of talk over the last year about Apple's extensive efforts to incorporate green energy into its data centers and upcoming <a href="http://www.maclife.com/article/news/video_highlights_environmental_friendliness_apples_spaceship_campus" target="_blank">"spaceship" campus</a>, but Lisa Jackson, Apple's vice president of environmental initiatives, suggests the company wants to go much further. During<em>&nbsp;Fortune</em>'s Brainstorm Green conference (via <a href="http://www.cultofmac.com/280430/apple-stores-will-soon-run-100-renewable-energy/" target="_blank"><em>Cult of Mac</em></a>),<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZCfK1ZXyP4" target="_blank"> she noted </a>that Apple wants to brings its green energy initiative to its retail stores as well.</p><p>If so, Apple faces significant challenges, and Jackson knows this. "It’s a lot harder to do the retail stores; they’re all over the place," Jackson said in the interview. "In some places they’re in a mall;&nbsp;literally a shopping center. In some cases, they’re standalone stores. But where they are in the grid and where they are in the world, the access to clean energy may or may not be a trivial exercise." Beyond that, Jackson didn't elaborate on how Apple plans to implement such a massive undertaking.</p><p><iframe src="//www.youtube.com/embed/eZCfK1ZXyP4" width="620" height="349" frameborder="0"></iframe></p><p>Jackson has been working for Apple since 2013, and impressively enough, she was also the chief of the Environmental Protection Agency from 2009 to 2013. Her very appointment is indicative of Apple's massive turnaround in its environmental policy, which once drew the ire of Greenpeace and led the organization to rank the environmental-friendliness of Apple's data centers dead last in 2011. Today, however, Greenpeace considers&nbsp;the Cupertino giant <a href="http://www.maclife.com/article/news/greenpeace_apple_has_most_environmentally_friendly_datacenters_tech" target="_blank">a role model</a> for all tech companies.</p><p>You can watch the whole 16-minute interview above. Jackson also tossed in some better-known facts about Apple's work with green energy, such as how its once-maligned data centers now run on 100 percent green energy and that, even now, 94 percent of the company's corporate facilities do the same. You can also hear about Apple's vision for clean energy in CEO Tim Cook's own words in the<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdeVaT-zZt4" target="_blank"> "Better" </a>video Apple released last month.</p><p><em>Follow this article's writer,<a href="https://twitter.com/LeifJohnson" target="_blank">&nbsp;Leif Johnson</a>, on Twitter.</em></p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_wants_power_its_retail_stores_green_energy#commentsNewsapplecorporateenergyenvironmentalismgreen energysustainableThu, 22 May 2014 21:49:35 +0000Leif Johnson20005 at http://www.maclife.comGreenpeace: Apple Has Most Environmentally Friendly Datacenters in Techhttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/greenpeace_apple_has_most_environmentally_friendly_datacenters_tech
<!--paging_filter--><p>We've come a long way from the days when critics at Greenpeace used to accuse Apple of espousing environmentally unsound policies. Indeed, just two years ago, the environmental group slapped the Cupertino company with poor scores for its reliance of fossil fuels. With a new report released today, however, Greenpeace now calls Apple "the most innovative and most aggressive" company in Silicon Valley as regards supplying its energy-intensive datacenters with renewable energy.</p><p>As<em> <a href="http://appleinsider.com/articles/14/04/02/apple-datacenters-the-most-environmentally-friendly-in-tech-says-greenpeace" target="_blank">AppleInsider</a></em> reports, Greenpeace is specifically impressed by Apple's commitment to renewable energy, its transparency in terms of its energy practices, and its deployment of these practices. The organization gave Apple an "A" score in all three categories. Such high marks largely spring from Greenpeace's appreciation of Apple's solar farm in Maiden, North Carolina.</p><p><img src="/files/u334114/2014/04/green.jpg" /></p><p><strong>Source: <a href="http://appleinsider.com/articles/14/04/02/apple-datacenters-the-most-environmentally-friendly-in-tech-says-greenpeace" target="_blank">AppleInsider</a></strong></p><p>"Apple's aggressive pursuit of its commitment to power the iCloud with 100% renewable energy has given the company the inside track among the IT sector's leaders in building a green Internet," Greenpeace wrote in its report. "Apple has made good on its pledge by building the largest privately owned solar farms at its North Carolina datacenter, working with its utility in Nevada to power its upcoming datacenter there with solar and geothermal energy, and purchasing wind energy for its Oregon and California data centers."</p><p>The advocacy group also admires Apple's pressuring of local utility companies to start offering renewable energy options. Indeed, all power that's used for Apple's data centers that's not generated by itself comes from utility companies offering renewable energy.</p><p>Still, Greenpeace sees some room for improvement. It criticizes the efficiency of those same renewable energy sources, for instance, awarding the company a "B" score in the relevant category. The society also believes Apple should share the wealth, so to speak. In the future, the Cupertino giant needs to share "more detail about Apple's energy efficient designs would help the IT sector to learn from, and improve upon, Apple's best efficiency practices."</p><p><em>Follow this article's writer,<a href="https://twitter.com/LeifJohnson" target="_blank">&nbsp;Leif Johnson</a>, on Twitter.</em></p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/greenpeace_apple_has_most_environmentally_friendly_datacenters_tech#commentsNewsappleenergyenvironmentalismGreenpeacerenewable energyThu, 03 Apr 2014 00:21:36 +0000Leif Johnson19674 at http://www.maclife.comHow to Get More Life Out of Your Mac Battery http://www.maclife.com/article/howtos/how_get_more_life_out_your_mac_battery
<!--paging_filter--><h3>Help your MacBook go the extra mile by caring for it and conserving power</h3><p>Fully charged, your Mac notebook can feel like it will last forever. However, we’ve all experienced that moment of annoyance when the battery indicator drops into the red and we desperately need to use the machine for longer.<br /><br />That’s why we’re going to show you two things: firstly, how to look after the battery in your Mac, which will help it hold its charge better as it gets older. Secondly, we’ll show you some simple ways to squeeze vital extra minutes out of your battery as it runs low – you may well be surprised what a difference these tips will make.<br /><br />Looking after your battery is important because all modern Apple notebooks have them built in. Gone are the days you could carry a spare in your bag and pop it in when one ran out: now, all you’ve got is what’s in your Mac. Having said that, the modern lithium-ion polymer batteries are much better than the nickel-based ones of yesteryear.<br /><br />First and foremost, you can safely recharge a lithium-ion polymer battery at any time, regardless of how much charge it’s got left in it. Recharging a half-full battery won’t harm it or reduce its life.<br /><br />Let’s now introduce the concept of a charge cycle. A cycle is completed when you use up the full capacity of your battery and then recharge it. Importantly though, this need not be in one go. If you run your battery down to 50% and then recharge it, you have completed half a charge cycle. Do so again, and you have completed a full cycle. The effect is cumulative. Lithium-ion polymer batteries do degrade as they rack up cycles, but this process is very slow. Officially, Apple says that the batteries in the latest models should be able to go through 1,000 full cycles and still hold 80% of their original full capacity.<br /><br />To keep your battery healthy, it’s important to run it through a full charge cycle at least once a month. If you use your Mac notebook at a desk and always leave it plugged in, it can be easy to forget to do this, so it’s best to set yourself a recurring monthly reminder in iCal to unplug your Mac and run down its battery, before giving it a full charge.</p><h3>Find the Settings to Save Power</h3><p><img src="/files/u307916/2012/Online/MacFormatHowTos/battery.jpg" width="620" height="315" /></p>http://www.maclife.com/article/howtos/how_get_more_life_out_your_mac_battery#commentsbatteryBattery IssuesBattery Lifeenergyenergy saverlow powerpowerSystem PreferencesMacHow-TosGalleryMon, 27 Feb 2012 18:56:48 +0000Laurence Cable13396 at http://www.maclife.comMac mini Reigns Big On ‘Green’ Computer Listhttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/mac_mini_reigns_big_%E2%80%98green%E2%80%99_computer_list
<!--paging_filter--><img alt="Mac mini sus-it.com" class="graphic-right" height="191" src="/files/u220903/Mac_mini_sus-it_big.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />Apple has been making a big push in recent years to show how “green” its computers are in regards to the environment, and now the diminutive Mac mini has landed a top spot as one of the greenest.<br /><br />In fact, <a href="http://www.sust-it.net/energy_saving.php?id=20&amp;sd=1&amp;tariff=18">the Mac mini reigns over the top four spots,</a> thanks to Apple offering two models with two different configurations for each. <a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/27/apples-mac-mini-tops-chart-of-green-computers/">According to TUAW.com</a>, the <a href="http://www.sust-it.net/">Sust-it.net website</a> hosts the chart, which breaks down energy use rankings for thousands of home appliances, entertainment devices and personal computers.<br /><br />Taking the crown at top spot is the 2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Mac mini, which slurps up a mere .94W when powered off, 1.71W in sleep mode and only 12.6W when powered on but idle. The energy cost per year (sans monitor) is only $5.51 US. Of course, this model is no longer produced by Apple, but the newer 2.26 GHz Mac mini is even more energy efficient, according to Apple. The refreshed model uses only .80W when off and 1.39W in sleep mode, but 13.4W when in idle mode.<br /><br />The Mac minis are Apple’s only showing in the Sust-it.net top 40 for desktop computers, but definitely not on the whole chart. Several models of Mac Pros are ranked between 87 and 111, and the various MacBook models chart high amongst laptop computers (10 in the top 20), with the 1.86 GHz MacBook Air ranking No. 2 (barely!) and the 2.13 GHz version at No. 3. In the all-in-one computer category, the top iMac falls at No. 6 behind eMachines, Acer, Asus and MSI.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.sust-it.net/">Sust-it.net is a good place to start</a> if your carbon footprint matters, and with the energy costs charted by day and by year, you could save a bundle on appliances, televisions, entertainment devices and computers, even if the initial cost of purchase is a bit higher than normal.<br /><br />http://www.maclife.com/article/news/mac_mini_reigns_big_%E2%80%98green%E2%80%99_computer_list#commentsNewsenergyenvironmentMac miniSat, 28 Nov 2009 16:54:05 +0000J.R. Bookwalter5411 at http://www.maclife.comiPhone Supply and Demand, iTunes Festival in London, Apple in India, and Morehttp://www.maclife.com/article/iphone_supply_and_demand_itunes_festival_in_london_apple_in_india_and_more
<!--paging_filter--><p><strong>Are you sick of reading about the iPhone yet?</strong> Well, we&#39;ll make this quick, then. Apple has clarified that the on-sale time of 6 p.m. (still June 29) is <a href="http://www.macrumors.com/2007/06/13/iphone-on-june-29th-at-6pm-local-time/" target="_blank">local time</a>. There&#39;s an unconfirmed report that <a href="http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/07/06/13/no_iphone_for_business_account_customers_at_launch.html" target="_blank">business accounts won&#39;t be able to get iPhones</a> at launch. Analysts have predicted that the <a href="http://www.forbes.com/2007/06/13/iphone-flash-memory-tech-wireless-cx_bc_0614iphone.html?partner=yahootix" target="_blank">iPhone-driven demand for flash memory could stabilize the memory&#39;s falling prices</a>, at least for a short time. And for today&#39;s <a href="http://www.hjo3.net/orly/" target="_blank">&quot;O RLY?&quot;</a> iPhone statements: The executive director of the University of San Diego&#39;s <a href="http://scmi.sandiego.edu/" target="_blank">Supply Chain Management Institute</a> says that <a href="http://www.macsimumnews.com/index.php/archive/iphone_shortages_anticipated/" target="_blank">&quot;there will be shortages&quot;</a> at launch. And analyst Gene Munster says that the <a href="http://www.macobserver.com/stockwatch/2007/06/14.1.shtml" target="_blank">supply will be important</a> to the iPhone&#39;s early success. (Then again, you could always <a href="http://chronicle.com/wiredcampus/article/2144/walt-mossberg-shows-college-leaders-his-new-iphone" target="_blank">jump Walt Mossberg for his</a>. Just kidding.) And a writer at O&#39;Grady&#39;s Powerpage wonders <a href="http://www.powerpage.org/2007/06/opinion_where_to_get_an_iphone_at_adiscount.html" target="_blank">how long it&#39;ll be until we see refurbed iPhones</a> at the <a href="http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/wa/RSLID?nnmm=browse&amp;mco=F6315688&amp;node=home/specialdeals" target="_blank">Apple Outlet</a>. And even before the iPhone&#39;s launch, business is booming at Apple&#39;s retail stores, which hit <a href="http://ce.seekingalpha.com/article/38328" target="_blank">200 percent of their daily goal</a> this week.</p>
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<p><strong>Competition for the iPhone-iTunes model: </strong>A London startup called <a href="http://www.omnifone.com/" target="_blank">Omnifone</a> is <a href="http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/jun2007/gb20070613_962841.htm?campaign_id=rss_tech" target="_blank">launching its MusicStation service today</a> in Sweden, and it&#39;s coming to other non-U.S. markets soon (no U.S. plans at the moment), which means <a href="http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&amp;ct=us/0-1&amp;fp=467109e8b51b73c4&amp;ei=SodxRoriNI6WrgOB3dSjAQ&amp;url=http%3A//www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2192129/musicstation-hopes-kill-iphone&amp;cid=1117236719" target="_blank">it will beat the iPhone to Europe and Asia</a>. The subscription service will work with Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Samsung, and Motorola phones, and includes music from Sony BMG, EMI, Universal Music Group, and Warner Music Group, as well as independent labels. Tracks are sent directly to the phone over the air, with unlimited access for roughly $4 a month. You don&#39;t actually own the music, but the upside is, if you lose your phone, you don&#39;t lose your music, since it&#39;s stored on a server. Bring it over here, Omnifone! </p>
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<p><strong>Apple around the world:</strong> In other music news, Apple&#39;s <a href="http://www.itunesfestival.com/" target="_blank">iTunes Festival</a> will feature <a href="http://www.ipodobserver.com/story/31825" target="_blank">dozens of bands playing in London throughout July</a>. And the company is also <a href="http://www.macnewsworld.com/rsstory/57823.html" target="_blank">linking its iTunes Store</a> to European social-networking site <a href="http://bebo.com/" target="_blank">Bebo.com</a>. Bebo users will be able to buy iTunes tracks by <a href="http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/07/06/12/apple_links_itunes_to_social_networking_through_bebo.html" target="_blank">clicking links in their favorite artists&#39; profile pages</a>. And <a href="http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/07/06/13/apple_finally_offers_complete_ipod_mac_lineups_to_india.html" target="_blank">a new distribution deal</a> will bring a full range of Mac and iPod products to customers in India. </p>
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<p><strong>More Leopard and Safari tidbits.</strong> While it would have been much nicer to be able to preorder an iPhone, no such luck. But <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000FK88JK?camp=0&amp;creative=0&amp;linkCode=as1&amp;creativeASIN=B000FK88JK&amp;adid=04MDB7JYM1KWMSBWYKY9&amp;tag=weeno" target="_blank">Amazon is now taking preorders</a> for Leopard. Apple Matters posits that <a href="http://www.applematters.com/index.php/section/comments/how-itunes-is-paving-the-way-for-switchers/" target="_blank">iTunes is paving the way for switchers</a>, especially now that we&#39;ve seen more of Leopard. See, now that the <a href="http://www.apple.com/macosx/leopard/features/finder.html" target="_blank">Finder</a> so closely resembles iTunes, Windows users already familiar with iTunes might not find the switch so jarring. Oh, and the <a href="http://www.macrumors.com/2007/06/14/safari-for-windows-updated-to-3-0-1/" target="_blank">Safari Beta for Windows has been updated to version 3.0.1</a>, to address some security flaws uncovered almost immediately after its launch earlier this week.</p>
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<p><strong>And finally, good news for the Earth.</strong> <a href="http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2007/06/climate-savers-computing-initiative.html" target="_blank">Google</a> and Intel are launching the <a href="http://www.climatesaverscomputing.org/" target="_blank">Climate Savers Computing Initiative</a> to promote more energy-efficient computer and server systems. The coalition includes Dell, HP, IBM, Lenovo, and Microsoft, as well as the EPA and other environmental groups, companies, and universities, and the program sets a goal of <a href="http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,132849-c,recycling/article.html" target="_blank">90 percent power efficiency</a>.</p>
http://www.maclife.com/article/iphone_supply_and_demand_itunes_festival_in_london_apple_in_india_and_more#commentsNewsAmazonBeboenergyenvironmentGoogleiphoneiTunesLeopardSafariThu, 14 Jun 2007 18:47:31 +0000Mac|Life staff886 at http://www.maclife.com